The Red Balloon (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

I first saw this delightful film by Albert Lamorisse at the one “art theater” in Atlanta in the 1970’s. Even showing it was a bit of an act of love, since the financial incentives played against it. Half an hour in length, it was not a “stand alone” movie. It had to be a “leader” for another film, which just might have stood alone itself. Fortunately, George didn’t usually think that way. He really loved good movies… and felt compelled to share, and educate. Now this movie, and so many other short movies can stand on their own, being downloaded at the viewer’s convenience. I must have seen the movie five times, and read the book, in French, Le Ballon Rouge (French edition of "The Red Balloon" to my children ten times. It was a favorite. It was first released in 1956, the end of the first decade of “les annees trente glorious,” the 30 years of glorious economic development in France after the Second World War. Things still appeared a bit shabby, with the building facades and shutters unfinished and unpainted for so many years, still, and often enveloped in smog. The film was shot in Paris, in the Ménilmontant section, which is in the 20th arrondissement, on the hill, near Pere Lachaise and Belleville, which provides scenic backdrops of the central portion of the city. The buses had standing platforms on the back, which were phased out by the time of my first visit in 1971 (how many people fell off before the phase out?) ‘Tis a shame, since I always considered that an “essential” part of the Parisian experience. And all the people in the movie were white, and not by selection, since there were numerous street scenes. The movie commences with Pascal petting a street cat. Many a kid has developed an attachment for a teddy bear, or another stuffed animal. Pascal’s attachment is for a very bright large helium balloon; the attachment is anthropomorphically reciprocated. A special relationship that a lot of adults, and even other kids try to thwart. His mother throws it out the window. The bus conductor will not allow it on the bus. And the school principal, grim and humorless, as are so many, goes berserk, as the balloon threatens his dignity. Pascal does receive a couple minutes of playful empathy from a girl his age carrying a blue balloon. Ah, and then there is the horrible jealousy of one’s peers, and it was in this book that I learn the literal and more metaphorical meaning of “voyous.” A glorious fantasy ending, that I had to puzzle as to how it was actually filmed. Albert Lamorisse utilized his own children Pascal and Sabine in this film. In reviewing his bio I learned that he was the creator of the game of “Risk,” which I have played many a time in my own youth. Albert Lamorisse died at the age of 48, in 1970, in a helicopter crash during the filming of a film, “The Lover’s Wind” (Le Vent des amoureux) in Iran. His wife and Pascal would finish and release the film eight years later. 5-stars plus for this marvelous legacy.

This film is an absolute work of art! It tells the beautiful story of a young boy and his only friend: a big red balloon. Their friendship is true and the living balloon follows the little boy wherever he goes. They play with each other, trust each other... they are together for good! A very simple and beautiful story... one that makes you remember how good it is to be a kid. ...all the possibilities... all the imagination and the innocence we lose when we grow up. This film will touch everyone who sees it. The only problem is the print they used for this DVD. Absolutely horrible! Full of scratches and marks... (there are silent films in better shape!) it seems someone dragged the film stock on a street to make it look bad. I cannot believe such an important film had such a lack of caring. The soundtrack is also bad and the rich Technicolor is gone. I was lucky enough to see this film on the big screen during the seventies and... believe me... it was beautiful. Nothing like this. I knew this print was bad because I read the other reviews, and yet, I bought it because I felt I must have it (for I love this film). But it was still shocking to see how bad a bad print can be. I think this film is a masterpiece and I will buy it again if this is ever restored and released again... but this is an european film and I do not see that (restoration... or a new print) coming soon. So I bought it anyway - think like this: not even in France this film is available... go figure why! A beautiful film that is worth every scratch... but it is a shame... Films like this one should be seen over and over and I am sure if it was to be rereleased it would be a success. Perhaps one day someone like Criterion (who for once released it in Laserdisc a looong time ago) will take this film and give the treatment it deserves. By the way, the DVD comes with an american animated cartoon : "The Pincushion Man". It is about a ballon-like city with ballon-like characters. The print is equally bad. It is an early thirties "silly symphonies-like" color cartoon produced by Castle Films. The film is nice and it leaves you wondering about how many great films are there left to rot. ...

One of the most vivid and wonderful memories of my childhood, I first went to see The Red Balloon (1956) at the cinema as a ten year old boy in April, 1957. Over fifty years later, this morning, I received this Criterion / Janus DVD from amazon.com and it's worth every penny. Superbly and lovingly restored, obviously from the original negative, there isn't a mark on it anywhere and the image is crystal clear. We fans of The Red Balloon have been waiting for a release like this for years. I'd have said it looks like a new film, but no modern film has Technicolor as lovely as this. Forget about that terrible quality Korean import DVD that people have had to put up with for so long. This is the version to go for and when you see it, you'll see just how wonderful the film looked originally to those 1950's cinema audiences of long ago. Pascal Lamorisse is totally enchanting. He reminds me of myself as a five or six years old boy and I can identify with him only too well. This is, without the slightest doubt, the best children's film of all time. It is totally beautiful and highly recommended. It is also very touching and may make you cry, no matter how young or old you are. Five Stars! David Rayner in Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK.

La dolcissima vicenda di un bimbo che trova un palloncino rosso e inizia un storia che vede il palloncino come metafora degli ideali, della bellezza, della vita, dell'innocenza fragile. Vincere un Oscar e una Palma d'oro non succede per caso. E' un film bellissimo... con dialoghi minimali... e il sonoro, in fondo, serve solo per la colonna sonora. E parrebbe un film in bianco e nero, tanto è il verismo e l'accuratezza delle immagini. Una sceneggiatura di pura arte... poesia. Film da vedere col vostro bimbo di 4 anni, con adolescenti che si affacciano alla vita, col partner o col nonno: 32 minuti di vera dolce poesia. Alla fine vi sentirete migliori. Se non sarete d'accordo, rivolgetevi a me... vi rimborserò il costo del DVD.

Bear in mind that two reviews here are concerned with region issues, I had a previous incarnation before it was remastered which was pretty dismal. However, this re-issue is superb, colours and everything within are excellent. An utterly charming little film, seemingly written about children and for them , which makes a nice change. Not a CGI editor in sight which makes the final scenes breathtaking, this is very clever technical work indeed. The absence of dialogue is compensated for by a delightful music score. If you like your children's films with a bit more grit then try 'The Singing Ringing Tree' - another childhodd gem which still scares the pants off me.

Great item. Perfect. Enjoyed this childhood memory. Thank you.

très satisfaite de cet achat, je le recommande, c'est un film à voir pour connaitre le Paris d'autrefois, et c'est une très jolie histoire

Un petit film culte de mon enfance. Pas déçu de le revoir bien au contraire!